A new water-based edutainment facility is to open at Mirdif City Centre in Dubai.

The site – named Aquaplay – is being developed by Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, which also owns and operates Ski Dubai and the Magic Planet family entertainment centres.

Aquaplay intends to mix learning with pleasure, featuring interactive “aquatraptions” aimed at 2 to 8-year-olds, which are designed to be no deeper than an arm’s length.

Silvio Liedtke, general manager of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, said: “We are all extremely proud of Aquaplay. This was a Majid Al Futtaim Leisure project from concept to completion and it has taken a great deal of vision and hard work to bring this together.

“There has always been the scope to create an environment where children can interact with water without being completely submerged in it and we have taken it upon ourselves to realise that potential. It’s the perfect way for children to build confidence around water.”

The centre will feature running and still water throughout. It incorporates the marine theme of sandy beaches and palm trees, with a two-chute flume ride, a tug boat swing ship and a dedicated pool for 12 bumper boats.

The Aquatraptions centre will allow visitors to interact with water, experience the dynamics of water or visit the “Mad Lab”, where they discover how the centre works.

The site is due to open in the first quarter of 2010.